Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Bankeraceae

I was so thrilled to see this rare fungus (Hydnellum peckii) again, when friend Sandy and I went along the Icefields Parkway to Peyto Lake (and a little further, to Mistaya Canton), on 29 August 2013. I had seen it maybe three or so times before, but it is such a treat to see. So unusual and beautiful. There were several of these all together - and nearby was a blue species, complete with a few blueish-white droplets. While we were looking at them and I was taking photos, a young guy stopped to see what we were looking at. He, too, took photos. A short while later, we bumped into him at the Peyto Lake lookout and he showed us his hands and fingers that had turned orange. I wondered if he had actually touched the fungus. On our walk back through the forest to the parking lot, I stopped to take a few more photos of them, resting my hands on the ground. Sure enough, I ended up with orange hands, too. Would this be from spores? This specimen may have been something like an inch in length, and has "teeth", not gills underneath, which unfortunately you can't see. "Hydnellum peckii is an inedible fungus, and a member of the genus Hydnellum of the family Bankeraceae. It is a hydnoid species, producing spores on the surface of vertical spines or tooth-like projections that hang from the undersurface of the fruit bodies. It is found in North America, Europe, and was recently discovered in Iran (2008) and Korea (2010). Hydnellum peckii is a mycorrhizal species, and forms mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of coniferous trees, growing on the ground singly, scattered, or in fused masses. The fruit bodies typically have a funnel-shaped cap with a white edge, although the shape can be highly variable. Young, moist fruit bodies can "bleed" a bright red juice that contains a pigment known to have anticoagulant properties similar to heparin. The unusual appearance of the young fruit bodies has earned the species several descriptive common names, including strawberries and cream, the bleeding Hydnellum, the bleeding tooth fungus, the red-juice tooth, and the Devil's tooth. Although Hydnellum peckii fruit bodies are readily identifiable when young, they become brown and nondescript when they age." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnellum_peckii www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9643944809

This was a lovely display of Hydnellum scrobiculatum, Rough Hydnellum (?), growing in West Bragg Creek Natural Area, Kananaskis, on 20th August. This is a toothed fungus, growing amongst the moss. Thanks for identifying this, Doug!

On Sunday 26 August 2012, there was supposed to be a day trip to one of my favourite places, Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, SW of Calgary. I guess no one else turned up at the meeting place in the city for this trip - I had decided to drive straight to the park, but hadn't told anyone my plans. After waiting an extra half hour at the park, I realized no one else had been able, or wanted, to go. The forest sure looked dark before the sun reached it and, even though there was one vehicle parked there - the place always gives me the creeps, ha - I just didn't fancy going in there. I thought the bears and cougars might still be looking for their breakfast, lol! So, I drove out to Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail, and had a look around. Funny how things work out - I was amazed and delighted to come across several small Strawberries and Cream fungi hidden in the grass under the Spruce (?) trees. All were old ones, but the one in my photo (maybe an inch and a quarter across the cap) was still at a young stage, with just one ruby coloured droplet. I think I've seen this species only two, maybe three, times before. The previous day, I had been on a mushroom foray in West Bragg Creek, and one of the fungi species we were keeping our eyes open for was Strawberries and Cream - but we were out of luck. Couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted them at Maclean Pond. On my way home from Maclean Pond, I decided to call in at the west end of Fish Creek Park, as I have found various species of fungi there before. Was happy to find several little Earth Star fungi (image posted yesterday). So, it definitely turned out to be a rewarding day. "Hydnellum peckii is an inedible fungus, and a member of the genus Hydnellum of the family Bankeraceae. It is a hydnoid species, producing spores on the surface of vertical spines or tooth-like projections that hang from the undersurface of the fruit bodies. It is found in North America, Europe, and was recently discovered in Iran (2008) and Korea (2010). Hydnellum peckii is a mycorrhizal species, and forms mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of coniferous trees, growing on the ground singly, scattered, or in fused masses. The fruit bodies typically have a funnel-shaped cap with a white edge, although the shape can be highly variable. Young, moist fruit bodies can "bleed" a bright red juice that contains a pigment known to have anticoagulant properties similar to heparin. The unusual appearance of the young fruit bodies has earned the species several descriptive common names, including strawberries and cream, the bleeding Hydnellum, the bleeding tooth fungus, the red-juice tooth, and the Devil's tooth. Although Hydnellum peckii fruit bodies are readily identifiable when young, they become brown and nondescript when they age." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnellum_peckii

This beautiful orange fungus was a new one for me, seen in West Bragg Creek Natural Area, Kananaskis on 12th September. "Hydnellum aurantiacum is an inedible fungus, commonly known as the orange tooth or orange Hydnellum for its reddish orange or rusty red colored fruiting bodies. Like other tooth fungi, it bears a layer of spines rather than gills on the underside of the cap. Due to substantial declines in sightings, this species is listed as critically endangered in the United Kingdom." .... Fruiting bodies are shallowly funnel-shaped (infundibuliform), and up to 15 cm in diameter. The upper surface is orange or orange-brown in the centre, with a lighter margin. It may be velvety or tomentose when young, but will become wrinkled or lumpy in age. The flesh is tough and woody, pale to dark orange-brown in color, without any distinctive odor but a bitter or mealy taste." From Wikipedia.

On Sunday 26 August 2012, there was supposed to be a day trip to one of my favourite places, Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, SW of Calgary. I guess no one else turned up at the meeting place in the city for this trip - I had decided to drive straight to the park, but hadn't told anyone my plans. After waiting an extra half hour at the park, I realized no one else had been able, or wanted, to go. The forest sure looked dark before the sun reached it and, even though there was one vehicle parked there - the place always gives me the creeps, ha - I just didn't fancy going in there. I thought the bears and cougars might still be looking for their breakfast, lol! So, I drove out to Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail, and had a look around. Funny how things work out - I was amazed and delighted to come across several small Strawberries and Cream fungi hidden in the grass under the Spruce (?) trees. All were old ones, but the one in my photo (maybe an inch and a quarter across the cap) was still at a young stage, with just one ruby coloured droplet. I think I've seen this species only two, maybe three, times before. The previous day, I had been on a mushroom foray in West Bragg Creek, and one of the fungi species we were keeping our eyes open for was Strawberries and Cream - but we were out of luck. Couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted them at Maclean Pond. On my way home from Maclean Pond, I decided to call in at the west end of Fish Creek Park, as I have found various species of fungi there before. Was happy to find several little Earth Star fungi (image posted yesterday). So, it definitely turned out to be a rewarding day. "Hydnellum peckii is an inedible fungus, and a member of the genus Hydnellum of the family Bankeraceae. It is a hydnoid species, producing spores on the surface of vertical spines or tooth-like projections that hang from the undersurface of the fruit bodies. It is found in North America, Europe, and was recently discovered in Iran (2008) and Korea (2010). Hydnellum peckii is a mycorrhizal species, and forms mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of coniferous trees, growing on the ground singly, scattered, or in fused masses. The fruit bodies typically have a funnel-shaped cap with a white edge, although the shape can be highly variable. Young, moist fruit bodies can "bleed" a bright red juice that contains a pigment known to have anticoagulant properties similar to heparin. The unusual appearance of the young fruit bodies has earned the species several descriptive common names, including strawberries and cream, the bleeding Hydnellum, the bleeding tooth fungus, the red-juice tooth, and the Devil's tooth. Although Hydnellum peckii fruit bodies are readily identifiable when young, they become brown and nondescript when they age." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnellum_peckii www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/7881395994